There is no need for a separate thread for this. All of this can be discussed in the Karachi Progress thread. It is not a large enough project to have its own thread!

__________________
▪To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. ▪ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. ▪

Nueplex ‘The Place’ – Pakistan’s Largest Cinema Complex To Open in DHA Karachi

The largest Cinema Complex ever built in Pakistan, Nueplex Cinemas is a revolution in technology and atmosphere. Nueplex Cinemas features 3 of the largest silver screens in Pakistan. All digital 4K 3D in 7.1 surround. It is the country’s largest cinema complex ever built and houses 5 cinemas.

Housed on the second floor of The Place is the completely first of its kind, built from the ground up and designed by world renowned cinema Architects Mesbur & Smith of Canada, the cutting edge, the state of art cinema complex, Nueplex Cinemas. Comprising 5 theaters, totaling 1200 seats and home to the 3 largest silver screens in Pakistan, Nueplex Cinemas is set to change the face of the Pakistani cinema business forever.

Boasting top end 4K Digital projection systems custom designed by Christie Digital Canada, Nueplex Cinemas has been outfitted by Asia’s top cinema integration company, Eugenetek Corporation and is the crowning achievement of years of planning and implementation. Boasting the latest 3D technology, custom designed sound systems and complete digital control of all theater functions, Nueplex is years ahead of any other cinema nationwide.

Nueplex Cinemas will bring about a revolution in the way films are viewed and enjoyed, it will create an immersive digital 2D and 3D experience complemented by 10,000 watt sound systems and automated screen systems designed by the top European and American manufacturers. The theaters posses the first custom designed theater acoustics in Pakistan that have been designed by world beating acoustic designers, Valcoustics, Canada.

No expense or effort has been spared in ensuring the comfort of patrons. The seats are custom made and our gold class cinema has its own waiting lounge and leather recliners with attendants on call. The Nueplex experience is a one of a kind experience. From the grandeur of our expansive cinemas 1, 2 and 3, to the intimacy of cinema 4 and the luxury of the gold class cinema, Nueplex is one of a kind and will be for years to come. It is the first true Digital Mutliplex experience in Pakistan.

Nueplex Cinemas will not only change the cinema business, it will have far reaching effects on the film and media business of Pakistan. Being at the pinnacle of technology, design and art, Nueplex Cinemas will be the standard by which all visual and aural presentation is judged. Our mission is simple, to provide the most amazing cinema experience in the world right here in Karachi. Nueplex Cinemas is a revolution, an ambitious and challenging idea bought to life and a film lover’s paradise, the entertainment capital of Karachi, Pakistan.

Situated at ‘The Place’ in DHA Phase VIII (opposite the Creek Vista Apartments), Nueplex Cinemas is set to change the face of cinema industry in Pakistan, forever. This next-generation entertainment complex is the brainchild of construction magnate Jamil Baig who believes that while theirs might be the first purpose-built cinema in Pakistan in 22 years, it will certainly not be the last! The cinema features the latest 3D technology, has the most up-to-date sound systems and has no equal when it comes to competition anywhere in Pakistan.

What’s new about Nueplex?

Nueplex has been designed by world renowned Cinema Architects Mesbur & Smith of Canada, and houses as many as 5 theatres – with gigantic screens – that can simultaneously play host to about 1100 people. Two of the cinemas – Cinema 1 and 3 – have 265 seats each, Cinema 2 (the one with the largest screen of all) has 370 seats while Cinema 4 has a capacity to fit in 148 people. The fifth ‘Royal’ hall has only 40 seats but has a separate waiting lounge with features such as leather recliner seats and attendants on call. Each hall has 3D screens and possesses custom-designed acoustics – designed by world renowned acoustic designers Valcoustics from Canada – that is likely to take the audience to a different level altogether.

The men behind the project believe that the top end 4K Digital projection systems will set a precedent for others to follow. But with so much ‘international’ imports, the ticket-prices must also be ‘of international standard’ one thinks.

“We believe in providing quality entertainment to the general film-loving public and that’s why we have kept the prices of the tickets as per the existing market rates,” counters Ali Saadat, the General Manager Operations at Nue Multiplex when asked about the ticket prices. “The 2D tickets will cost Rs. 500, the 3D ones will be available at Rs. 600 while the Royal 2D would be priced at Rs. 1000 and the Royal 3D at Rs. 1250 (inclusive of snacks and refreshments), which is not expensive at all.”

While one of the newer cinemas in the city has barred its potential customers from taking the elevator (they have reserved those for a superstore below ground), the other is usually (and that’s a good thing) always so full of people that the two elevators seem less in number. In such a scenario, the arrival of Nueplex Cinemas at The Place is a welcome change because the entertainment complex has state-of-the-art escalators, elevators and stairs that can take you to your destination in no time; you can be rest assured that you will reach the theatre before the start of the movie!

Where size does matter!

This Nue Multiplex Cinema has larger screens than the competition, they have spacious seats (both in Royal and Public theatres) and the elevation of the hall is as high as 30 feet, which is certainly new to cinema-loving public that hasn’t had the chance to visit the ‘great’ cinemas of yesteryears. Even the area reserved for ‘Box Office’ where tickets would be sold and ‘Refreshment Counters’ where one could buy refreshments seem quite spacious. “The idea is to attract people to come to the cinema and wait for their friends rather than wander around the mall. That’s why we have a waiting area, where you can sit for as long as you like and enjoy the refreshments and watch the trailers of upcoming movies on the digital screens.” Brigadier Jehanzeb Raja, the Administration and Chief Security Officer, explained when inquired about the spacious area.

‘Make them an offer they can’t refuse!’

“When people visit cinemas, they want to concentrate on watching the movie rather than worry about their cars and that’s why we believe in facilitating the public in every way which we can. We have ensured that at one time, our parking in the basement can house as many as 300 cars, and outside can fit as many as 1000 cars – taking the total to 1300 cars simultaneously.” Ali Saadat explained. “We’ve also given special seats for those citizens who are handicapped which has never been done in Pakistan before.”

And last but not the least, free delivery of tickets will be provided to the customers residing in the areas of Defence and Clifton, which is something unheard of in Pakistan. “People can visit our website and book tickets in advance and our riders will drop the tickets at their place, and they can pay them in cash at the time of delivery. The hassle of going to the cinema, standing in the line, waiting for your chance and of not getting a ticket will be minimized through this feature which I am sure will revolutionize the cinema industry,” Ali Saadat added.

Security fears... what security fears?

People across ‘the bridge’ believe that a cinema as far as Phase VIII will be a security threat for them and their family since there are no street lights after dark, there is no police patrol even in day time and that the road to destination is too lengthy for those unfamiliar with the area. Brigadier Jehanzeb Raja, the Administration and Chief Security Officer, dismisses the security fears regarding the location of The Place. ‘On Independence Day this year, as many as 25 thousand people gathered to watch an exhibition match at the Moin Khan Cricket Academy. Similarly, during the Holy month of Ramazan, people from all over the city – be it from Defence, Clifton or as far fledged areas as North Nazimabad – came over to this part of town with their families to watch the Ramazan Cricket tournament as well as treat themselves to Iftars and dinners at the nearby Do Darya food street.”

“People throng this area on Sundays for the famous Sunday bazaar and had this place not been safe, why would they have come this far! In fact, this is one area which doesn’t provide safe haven to those who can roam around freely, like they do in thickly populated areas. We will also try to have our own security – both inside and outside the complex – to give the visitors a sense of safekeeping when they visit the complex for entertainment.”

Value added features!

The Place will also feature Thrill Rides (Bumper Cars, Merry-Go-Round and 80-feet Drop Tower), an international standard Food Court, a Skating rink as well as a Day Care Center where parents can drop their kids and go on a movie ride at the Nueplex Cinema without worrying about the child’s safety. The Drop Tower needs special mention since it is only the fourth ‘indoor’ Drop Tower in the world that has the capacity to make the riders bounce, free fall and rotate at the same time.

All these ‘Value Added Services’ will help people visit The Place who in turn will be intrigued to watch a movie at the Nueplex Cinemas, which will prove to be an entertainment lover’s paradise and a movie buff’s heaven, if you want to experience what you have been missing. The wait is nearly over as in a few more hours, the whole new experience will be ready for visitors from all over the city, and beyond!
- See more at: http://magazine.thenews.com.pk/mag/d....WGeEywWW.dpuf

KARACHI:
For moviegoers in Karachi, Phase VIII in the Defence Housing Authority is all set to become the ‘It’ destination with the launch of the Neuplex complex on Thursday, which claims to house the biggest screens in the country.

“We are all striving to make it to the big screen,” said Faisal Rafi, the music producer turned cinema installation consultant as he walked through the halls of what is said to be Pakistan’s biggest cinema complex. Rafi’s transition into the cinema business is fairly recent – till a year back he was known for guiding people through his studio where one could listen to the unfinished tracks of the likes of Strings and Karavan.

The Neuplex complex is located in an entertainment centre, called “The Place”, which is situated in Khayaban-e-Shaheen. The complex has five theatre halls – 270 seats in cinema 1, 360 seats in cinema 2, 275 seats in cinema 3, 148 seats in cinema and cinema 5, which is a luxury cinema, has 48 seats.

According to Rafi, the standard cinema seats are of 18 inches but they have chosen to go for a 21-inch-seat which why where there could have been four to five hundred seats in the hall, there are a lot less.

“Experience is the key here,” he explained. “We could have easily stacked up people but that would have been tiring, especially when a major chunk of the movies come from Bollywood which are three hours long.”

Purely movies

Unlike the usual trend of situating multiplexes within shopping malls, Neuplex has no shopping area – just five screens along with food outlets. The projection systems are all digital 2k with cinema 1,2 and 4 also offering film projection. All five halls support 3D projection. The screens in Nueplex range from 50 to 60 Ft and are the first one piece silver screens of this size ever installed in Pakistan.

The project was initiated by Tariq and Jamil Baig, one of the largest government contractors and infrastructure developers, and for the last one and half year Faisal Rafi and Ali Diwan have been working as the consultants for this project.

“Jamil and Tariq had the vision of the best cinema complex in Pakistan,” said Rafi as he checked the projection system. “In terms of space, location and experience, and with the amount of time, money and skill invested in this project, the experience will be of the very next level.”

Setting a benchmark

“Our cinemas 1, 2 and 3 have the largest cinema screens in Pakistan. By that I mean even bigger then Nishat. They are all spread edge to edge” says Rafi.

Eugenetek, who are one of Asia’s largest Cinema Integration Companies, was hired for the cinema installations at Neuplex, and Diwan and Rafi represent the company’s Pakistani counterpart. They also represent Christie Digital, the world’s largest digital imaging company and a powerhouse behind the digital cinema revolution. The Eugenetek Korea and Eugenetek Pakistan teams put together Neuplex with teams from Poland, Malaysia, Korea and Italy flying in to make it a true international effort.

“The real achievement is that we are the first Christie Digital cinema in the country. Too put it in layman’s words, it is simply the best digital projection available in the market” elaborates Rafi.

Diwan was just as enthusiastic about the venture. “Everything down to the viewing angle and decibel level of the seats in Nueplex was calculated before the first brick was laid,” he told The Express Tribune. “The cinema has ample parking space, best franchises in town in terms of food and the best audio and visual experience along with the selection of films that our audience wants to watch.”

When asked if the prices would be jacked up later, Rafi replied in the negative. “People have to realise that we are not competing with anyone and that is the charm of the multiplex culture. Whether it’s Defence or Gulshan, every vicinity needs a multiplex and we are just doing that,” said Rafi, hoping that this latest complex would trigger a multiplex culture in Karachi.

KARACHI:
Saman Rehman, a moviegoer, munched away on her popcorn while staring in awe at the huge screen in front of her. “This screen is huge,” she exclaimed, right before the premiere of Bollywood movie Satyagraha at the Nueplex complex.

Rehman was among those who attended the launch of the five-theatre complex on Friday. “I’ve been to other cinemas but never seen such a big screen before,” she told The Express Tribune.

Situated at The Place in Phase VIII of the Defence Housing Authority, Nueplex complex was host to celebrities, sportsmen and even politicians on its first day. Movies playing at the complex included Pacific Rim, Satyagarha and Once Upon a Time Again in Mumbai.

Actor Behroz Sabzwari, who was accompanied by his wife, son Shehroz Sabzwari and daughter-in-law Syra Yousuf, welcomed the launch of the cinemas. “There aren’t many entertainment outlets for the people in Karachi – usually they only end up going to the sea. The trend of cinemas opening up is good,” said the actor.

Another guest Najia Malik loved the overall atmosphere as well as the interior of the cinema, but she was of the opinion that a Pakistani movie should have been premiered at the launch. “Really good local movies are being made at the moment and we need to encourage them,” said Malik.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s leader Waseem Akhtar was also seen walking the red carpet. “I can’t recall the last time I went to the movies. Being in politics hardly gives me time for recreational activities but I managed to show up today on the invite of a friend,” he said while talking to The Express Tribune.

The general manager of operations of Nueplex, Ali Saadat, did not share exactly how big the screens were but said they were the largest in the country. “The Place is a purpose-built cinema complex and ideal for movie buffs.”